Are apricot stones poisonous?
Everybody loves apricots and you can get good quality apricots almost anywhere these days. You may even choose between harder ones or softer, well-ripened ones. The softer ones are usually used to make a great apricot jam but as with any fruits they are best when eaten fresh. Some people even eat the kernel inside the hard stone. If you like to eat the kernels you can buy apricot kernels online or in pharmacies. So, how come so many people claim that apricot kernels are dangerous? Is it a myth or reality?
Amygdalin protects against herbivores
A substance called amygdalin is found in apricot kernels. It is a cyanogenic glycoside that protects the seeds from herbivores. If eaten, amygdalin is converted into hydrogen cyanide in the animal digestive tract. It is an enzymatic poison, which is a highly toxic substance. Did you know that hydrogen cyanide was the deadly substance in Zyklon B used by Nazi in concentration camps? Yes, that definitely sounds horrible.
Photo: Radek Štěpán
How many apricot kernels can you actually eat?
It is hard to say, especially when many people can eat dozens of kernels without experiencing any problems even though they amygdalin content in fresh apricot kernels is quite high. It is generally accepted that 3 kernels is the maximum dose one can consume. The lethal dose of cyanide ranges between 0.5 and 3.5 milligrams. Experts from the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) set the maximum at 20 micrograms, which is 25 times less than the lethal dose.
What about apricot kernels and children?
You need to be careful with children of course because the maximum safe dose has been set to half a seed. If anyone exceeds the safe dose, he or she may experience fatigue, nausea, and sometimes other more serious problems.
Photo: Radek Štěpán
Amygdalin against cancer?
A biochemist Ernst Krebs saw apricot kernels as a possible cure for cancer however, later scientific work disproved the effectiveness of amygdalin against cancer even though scientists created and artificial substance called laetrile, which is a form of artificial amygdalin, and used it in the research. Nevertheless, some vendors recommend eating 10 to 60 kernels a day! Do not do that! That could be very dangerous!
Source:
https://plzen.rozhlas.cz/merunkova-jadra-vas-muzou-i-otravit-nepodlehnete-sarlatanum-7447325
https://prima-receptar.cz/opravdu-mohou-merunkova-jadra-byt-zdravi-prospesna/
Preview photo: Radek Štěpán
Gardening is my hobby, I have a lot of experience and I am happy to share it.
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